Communications installation for aircraft

ABSTRACT

An arrangement for audio, video and/or data communication between a ground station and an aircraft, having at least one communications channel and a monitoring device provided on board the aircraft includes at least one audio, video or flight data recording apparatus or combinations thereof, which can be activated either from on board the aircraft or by remote control from the ground station. The recording apparatus can be deactivated by remote control from the ground station and/or from on board the aircraft when it is on the ground. The arrangement also includes a memory for the data from the recording apparatus and a transmission apparatus for transmitting data from the recording apparatus and/or data read from the memory to the ground station. The transmission apparatus uses at least one communications channel in the arrangement for audio and/or video and/or data communication between the ground station and the aircraft.

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of Ser. No. 10/188,367 filed Jul. 3,2002, now U.S. Pat. No. ______.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to an arrangement for audio and/or video and/ordata communication in accordance with the preamble of the main claim.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Communications installations, particularly for audio communication(radio telephony) between an aircraft and a ground station and alsobetween aircraft, are known. Terrestrial radio links in the VHF band areparticularly common.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,742,336 discloses a monitoring system for aircraft. Aplurality of video cameras and microphones are installed on board anaircraft; the corresponding video and audio data are transmitted to aground station via a satellite link.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is based on the object of providing a simple andinexpensive arrangement of the type mentioned in the introduction whichadditionally allows the aircraft to be monitored from a ground station.

The invention achieves this object by virtue of a monitoring deviceadditionally being provided on board the aircraft and having thefollowing features:

-   a) at least one audio and/or video and/or flight data recording    apparatus,-   b) the recording apparatus can be activated either from on board the    aircraft or by remote control from the ground station,-   c) the recording apparatus can be deactivated exclusively by remote    control from the ground station and/or from on board the aircraft    when it is on the ground,-   d) a memory for the data from the recording apparatus,-   e) a transmission apparatus for transmitting data from the recording    apparatus and/or data read from the memory to the ground station,-   f) the transmission apparatus uses at least one communications    channel in the arrangement for audio and/or video and/or data    communication between the ground station and the aircraft.

First, a few concepts used within the scope of the invention will beexplained.

The inventive arrangement is provided for audio and/or video and/or datacommunication between a ground station and an aircraft. The term“arrangement” makes it clear that the invention comprises apparatusesarranged both on board the aircraft and in the ground station. The audiocommunication can, in particular, involve a radio link (simplex orduplex link). Data communication can involve, by way of example,continuous or intermittently repeated transmission of data such asengine data or other flight data.

The concept “ground station” refers to any base station communicatingwith the aircraft, said base station generally also being arranged at aphysically fixed location on the ground, but not necessarily having tobe so. Within the scope of the invention, it may also be a mobile basestation, for example on board a vehicle, ship or another aircraft. Thisis also covered by the concept “ground station” within the scope of theinvention.

The inventive arrangement has at least one communications channel. Thismeans that at least one (audio, video or data) link can be set upbetween an aircraft and a ground station in one transmission direction.According to the invention, it is preferred if the bandwidth of thiscommunications channel allows at least the transmission of audiblycomprehensible audio data in real time, as in the case of an ordinaryterrestrial VHF link, for example. Generally, an arrangement inaccordance with the invention will have more than one communicationschannel. By way of example, a full-duplex voice link already has asecond communications channel, so that it is possible to transmit audiodata in both directions simultaneously. In general, an arrangement inaccordance with the invention will have a plurality of communicationschannels (for example radio channels) which can be used simultaneously.

The inventive monitoring device provided has at least one audio and/orvideo and/or flight data recording apparatus. This may involve, inparticular, microphones, video cameras and apparatuses for recordingengine data, data from the control devices and the like. Preferably, aplurality of audio and/or video recording apparatuses are providedwhich, by way of example, can audibly and visibly record events in thecockpit and/or cabin in part or in full. When the recording apparatus isreferred to within the scope of the invention, this is always alsointended to cover the ordinary case of a plurality of recordingapparatuses.

The recording apparatus can be activated either from on board theaircraft or by remote control from the ground station. Activation meansthat the apparatus starts to record audio or video data, for example.Preferably, to activate it from on board, a plurality of switchesdistributed inconspicuously over the cockpit and the cabin are provided,so that the cockpit or cabin crew can activate the recording apparatusesinconspicuously in the event of an aircraft hijack, for example.Remote-controlled activation from the ground station is advantageous if,for example in the event of an aircraft hijack, following a terroristattack or a technical fault (pressure loss or the like), the cockpitand/or cabin crew are not able to act, or can act only to a restricteddegree. In the case of occurrences which attract attention, such asflight data differing from the route plan (changes of course, suddenchanges in altitude or the like), the ground station (air trafficcontroller) can then activate the monitoring system without any actionby the aircraft crew in order to obtain a picture of the situation onboard.

According to the invention, the recording apparatus can be deactivatedexclusively by remote control from the ground station and/or from onboard the aircraft when it is on the ground (for example using the LRU(line replaceable unit)). This is intended to prevent the aircraft crewfrom being able to deactivate the system again after the occurrence ofan emergency on account of misjudgment of the situation or underexternal pressure (for example in the case of an aircraft hijack). Outof the same considerations, the invention preferably involves arrangingthe audio and/or video and/or flight data recording apparatuses and alsoother parts of the inventive arrangement so that they are hidden orinconspicuous, and also, if appropriate, physically protecting them bymeans of an appropriately solid housing or the like.

The invention provides a memory for the data from the recordingapparatus. This memory preferably stores all the data preferably in allthe recording apparatuses over a particular period. It can be an analogor preferably a digital memory, which stores the corresponding data indigitized form. It can preferably be memory chips (solid state memory),for example.

In addition, a transmission apparatus for transmitting data from therecording apparatus and/or data read from the memory to the groundstation is provided. According to the invention, this transmissionapparatus uses at least one communications channel in the inventivearrangement for the transmission operation. Within the scope of theinvention, the transmission apparatus can transmit data from one or morerecording apparatuses in real time provided that the capacity of thecommunications channel used is sufficient for this purpose. By way ofexample, a VHF radio channel can be used to listen to a monitoringmicrophone from the ground station in real time. Frequently, however,the capacity of the available communications channel or communicationschannels will not be sufficient to transmit all the data from all therecording apparatuses to the ground station in real time. Within thescope of the invention, provision is therefore made for the transmissionapparatus optionally also to be able to transmit data read from thememory to the ground station. For this purpose, the ground station canadvantageously specifically actuate the memory which is on board theaircraft by remote control and can read data stored therein. If, by wayof example, the real-time audio monitoring of the cockpit indicates thata particular event has taken place at a particular time, the groundstation can specifically retrieve video data for this time using thecommunications channel.

The particular advantage of the invention is that a particularcommunications infrastructure does not need to be set up for themonitoring device. Instead, according to the invention, thecommunications devices available on any aircraft anyway, which aregenerally narrowband communications devices, however, such as VHF radio,are additionally used as communications channels for the monitoringdevice. Although these communications channels available anywayfrequently do not allow full real-time transmission of all themonitoring data, storage of these data in the on-board memory and theoption of specific actuation and reading of the data from the memory bythe ground station nevertheless allow the air traffic controller toobtain, within the scope of the invention, a full picture of thesituation on board by also subsequently retrieving stored data.

The VHF band comprises frequencies from 30 to 300 MHz. Normally, VHFlinks between an aircraft and a ground station or between aircraft areamplitude-modulated, but other types of modulation, particularlyfrequency or phase modulation, are likewise conceivable. Within thescope of the invention, communications links in other frequency bands,such as in the UHF band (0.3 to 3 GHz) or possibly in the minimum-waveand shortwave range (1.6 to 30 MHz), can likewise be used.

With this ability, which is preferred within the scope of the invention,to control selection of the data to be transmitted using thetransmission apparatus from among data from the recording apparatus (forexample selection of the microphones or cameras) or stored data, it isalso preferred that the data from the recording apparatus are stored inthe memory with an identifier indicating the recording time and/orlocation. Data to be transmitted to the ground station can then beselected from the memory, within the scope of the invention, by virtueof the ground station transmitting to the aircraft an identifiercontaining a recording time and a recording location (for examplecockpit camera). This identifier is then used to select the appropriatedata from the memory, to read them and to transmit them to the groundstation using the communications channel.

The invention also relates to a monitoring device which is set up foruse in an arrangement in accordance with the invention. This monitoringdevice can be incorporated into an existing communications installation(for example a VHF radio installation), so that an arrangement inaccordance with the invention is produced.

The inventive memory preferably has the mechanical and thermalresistance capability of a cockpit voice recorder or other flight datawriter (black box). It is preferably designed for fully recording thedata from all the recording apparatuses over a period of at least 15min, preferably at least 30 min, and more preferably at least 1 h.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

An exemplary embodiment of the invention is described below withreference to the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 schematically shows the on-board communications and monitoringdevice in the inventive arrangement;

FIG. 2 schematically shows an example of activation or control of theon-board part of the arrangement by a ground station.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The on-board central unit 1 contains the memory for data from the audio,video and/or flight data recording apparatuses, connections forappropriate recording apparatuses, and also for supplying power, thetransmission apparatus for communicating with the ground station andother operating or display apparatuses.

The central unit 1 has the mechanical and thermal resistance capabilityof a cockpit voice recorder, which means that data stored therein aremaintained in readable form even after an aircraft crash. It ispreferably arranged in a region of the aircraft which is not accessibleduring the flight or can be accessed only with difficulty. The centralunit 1 is connected to the on-board power supply, as indicated at 2. Asa backup power supply, an internally arranged battery 3 is provided.

4 indicates the inputs for audio, video and/or flight data recordingapparatuses. Generally, a connection for at least one microphonearranged in the cockpit is provided. If required, such a microphone canbe connected both to the central unit 1 and to the usual cockpit voicerecorder 5. Preferably, inputs for additional microphones are provided,these microphones possibly being arranged, by way of example, in theaircraft cabin, in the hold, or in functional areas, such as galleys ortoilets, or the like. The central unit 1 is set up for parallelrecording of all the audio information delivered by the microphones.

It is also preferred if connections for video cameras which, within thescope of the invention, can also be combined with a microphone are alsoprovided. In this way, by way of example, events in the cockpit, in thecabin, in the hold or the like can be recorded and stored in the centralunit 1. The available storage means are preferably digital memories,such as memory chips (solid state memory), which can record the datafrom each input channel for a period of one hour. In addition, theconnections 4 can also be provided for flight data recordingapparatuses, for example can record flight data such as altitude, speedor the like, engine data, position of the control elements for theengines or other devices on the aircraft and the like.

Switches 6, 7 which are arranged inconspicuously in the cockpit andpreferably in the cabin and are easy for the crew to reach are used foractivating the central unit. A signal device 8, which is preferablylikewise arranged inconspicuously, indicates to the cockpit crew thatthe central unit has been activated.

As indicated at 9, the central unit is connected to an ordinary VHFradio 10. This radio 10 is preferably set up for simultaneouslytransmitting and, in particular, receiving on a plurality of VHFchannels, which are indicated in the drawing by the labels VHF 1, VHF 2and VHF 3. The inventive arrangement is then activated from the groundstation by transmitting an activation signal, which will be explainedlater, on a VHF channel which is constantly switched to reception in theradio 10. Normal VHF frequencies for this purpose are 121.5 or 243 MHz,for example. The inventive arrangement can be deactivated from on boardonly when the aircraft is on the ground, using a switch which isarranged on the LRU (line replaceable unit) rack.

In normal flight mode, the central unit 1 is in the deactivated state.This means that it transmits no data of any kind to the ground stationusing the VHF link from the radio 10. In this deactivated state, thecentral unit 1 and, if appropriate, the audio, video and/or flight datarecording apparatuses connected to the connections 4 can be offcompletely; alternatively, the connections 4 can be used to recordappropriate data in the internal memory of the central unit 1 withoutany transmission of data to the ground station. In this case, old datain the memory in the central unit 1 are continually overwritten as soonas the storage capacity is exhausted. By way of example, appropriateaudio, video and flight data for the past hour are then continuallystored. This deactivated state in which the data are still recordedinternally has the advantage that, following activation, it is alsopossible to request events from the period before activation. By way ofexample, in the case of an aircraft hijack, the ground station canobtain information about where aircraft hijackers originally sat and howthey got into the cockpit.

The central unit 1 is activated either using switches 6, 7 alreadydescribed or by secure remote control from the ground station using aspecific activation code. A receiver in the radio 10 is constantlyswitched to reception on an appropriate VHF channel, such as 121.5 or243 MHz. When a specific activation code in the form of a touch tone isreceived, it is routed to the central unit 1 and activates the latter.

Following activation, the central unit 1 occupies a VHF communicationschannel in the radio 10 and uses it to transmit data to the groundstation. If it has been activated, either by the switches 6, 7 or elsefrom the ground station, without more precise specification of thesignals which need to be transmitted, the central unit 1 first transmitsa preset standard signal, for example the sound recorded by the cockpitmicrophone is transmitted in real time.

The ground station can use another VHF channel for secure remote controlof the central unit 1 using “touch tones”. FIG. 2 shows an example of atouch tone, composed of various signals, for remotely controlling thecentral unit 1. First, a “mode S code” is transmitted which signals tothe central unit 1 that control codes follow. The activation code isused to switch the central unit 1 from the inactive state to the activestate. Conversely, it can be deactivated again in this manner. A VHFchannel (denoted by F(t1) in the figure) is then prescribed which willbe used to set up the link between central unit and ground station. AnEOT signal signals the end of the command sequence. The aforementionedcomponents of the touch tone have a white background in the drawing andare compulsory components of every command sequence to the central unit.

Additional optional components of such a command sequence are shown indashes in the drawing. Thus, activation of the central unit 1 can befollowed by specific selection of a particular audio channel (selectionfrom the available microphones) or a particular video channel fortransmission. In addition, a plurality of VHF frequencies can beswitched for transmission if the radio provides an appropriate number ofchannels. Finally, the command part denoted by Frame in the figure canspecifically retrieve particular stored video recordings or picturesfrom the memory in the central unit 1. The data from the recordingapparatuses, particularly from the video recording apparatuses, arestored in the memory in the central unit 1 with an identifier indicatingthe recording time and recording location. The ground station can use anappropriate command for specifically retrieving pictures from the memoryfrom a particular camera location on the aircraft at a particular time.This opportunity for specific subsequent retrieval of video data takesaccount of the fact that VHF communications channels have two narrow abandwidth for transmitting picture or video data in real time. Theground station can, by way of example, listen to audio data in real timeand then specifically retrieves data only for those locations and timesfor which sufficient clarification of the situation on board cannot beobtained from the audio data alone.

The invention allows data, particularly video data, to be divided intodata blocks within the central unit 1 and allows these blocks to betransmitted to the ground station simultaneously using a plurality ofVHF channels. This packet-by-packet parallel transmission permits fastertransmission of large data records, particularly for pictures and videodata.

Particularly when video data are recorded in the memory in the centralunit 1, it can be useful for known compression algorithms to be used,when storing a plurality of frames succeeding one another in time, tostore, by way of example, only the respective changes and not the entirepicture.

An appropriate touch tone can be used to deactivate the central unit 1again by secure remote control from the ground station. Deactivationfrom on board is possible only when the aircraft is on the ground, usingthe switch 10 arranged on the LRU rack.

1. A monitoring device for use on board an aircraft for audio, video ordata communication between a ground station and an aircraft over atleast one communications channel, comprising: a) at least one audio,video or flight data recording apparatus or combinations thereof, whichcan be activated either from on board the aircraft or by remote controlfrom the ground station and can be deactivated exclusively by remotecontrol from the ground station and/or from on board the aircraft whenit is on the ground, b) a memory for data from the recording apparatus,c) a transmission apparatus for transmitting data from the recordingapparatus or data read from the memory to the ground station, whichtransmission apparatus uses the at least one communications channel foraudio, video and/or data communication between the ground station andthe aircraft.
 2. The device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising anapparatus which can be controlled by the ground station for the purposeof selecting the data to be transmitted using the transmission apparatusfrom among the data from the recording apparatus or stored data.
 3. Thedevice as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the data from the recordingapparatus are stored in the memory with an identifier indicating therecording time and/or location.
 4. The device as claimed in claim 1 or2, wherein the at least one communications channel is a VHF channel. 5.The device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the memory has themechanical and thermal resistance capability of a cockpit voicerecorder.
 6. The device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the memoryis designed for fully recording the data from all recording apparatusesin the device over a period of at least 15 min.
 7. A monitoring devicefor use on board an aircraft, comprising: a) at least one audio, videoor flight data recording apparatus or combinations thereof, which can beactivated either from on board the aircraft or by remote control fromthe ground station and can be deactivated exclusively by remote controlfrom the ground station and/or from on board the aircraft when it is onthe ground, b) a memory for data from the recording apparatus, c) atransmission apparatus for transmitting data from the recordingapparatus and/or data read from the memory to the ground station, whichis set up to use at least one communications channel in an on-boardsystem for audio, video and/or data communication between the aircraftand a ground station.
 8. The device as claimed in claim 3, wherein theat least one communications channel is a VHF channel.
 9. The device asclaimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the memory is designed for fullyrecording the data from all recording apparatuses in the device over aperiod of at least 30 min.
 10. The device as claimed in claim 1 or 2,wherein the memory is designed for fully recording the data from allrecording apparatuses in the device over a period of least 1 hour.